Friday Flush

Do you ever feel like saying this to someone?  I can assure you that we probably all do, but it probably wouldn’t help us out of an argument too much.  I have heard it said once that “one of the hardest thing about working with people is working with people.”  And, then we compound the issue by working with kids too! 

You guys are truly amazing in what you do.  You can focus your energy, time, and attention on what truly matters even with so many people with their hands in the pot.  There are so many people to get along with….so many “to do’s” to get done…..so many systems to remember and timelines to keep.  But, you do it, and you do it well.  In fact, you know how to stay focused on what matters.

 

 

The “main thing” for us is students….We need to focus on their needs…focus on their strengths FIRST and build up their weaknesses.  Focus on what they can do to develop what they can’t.  We can keep choosing the path that leads to more engaged students by staying focused on the task at hand.  We have to be driven people to succeed, and I know that we can do that.  We need to not focus on why others are wrong or why others don’t think like us, and we need to focus on how to make each day better than the one before. 

I hope everyone has a great Friday and enjoys this time of parent conferences….brag on their kids….let them see how much you truly care for their child….that is the main thing.  

Monday Math Mush

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZKHBZXgPQU (18:00)

I would say that this is a longer video than I typically like to choose for a mush or flush, but I totally think this is worth it.  We are focusing big time on our math, and we are continuing to focus on how to motivate/teach boys.  We talk often of how to start with the big picture and work to the specific which is how boys typically organize information.

These are two male high school teachers doing at TEDTalk.  It is basically a forum for the sharing of ideas.  There are 100’s of TEDtalks, but this one caught my attention.  These two guys do a great job of showing how important “schema” is in math.  We talk of schema all the time in ELA, but not as much in math.   This idea of schema is how these two teachers work to create critical thinkers. 

They continue to discuss how this method empowers the students to teach themselves because they have a confidence and skills.  They spoke to their improvement on test scores based on the implementation of these ideas.

They put the ideals on putting the power of learning into the students hands, and it seems to be successful.  I like their presentation because it is real.  They aren’t professional speakers or thinkers…they are teachers with a new way to present information. 

I hope you think about how this concept could help your classroom.  I don’t want you to bite off so much that you don’t think you can implement it.  Find practical ways or lessons that you can start with the concept.  Think of something you have taught before…you KNOW how is usually goes….Now try this concept….compare the two.  I think it will be eye opening what we see. 

We all need maps and schema….we need to find ways to put them into our teaching in real and meaningful ways. 

Thanks for watching the longer video and spending time thinking about how schema can better the lives of students by empowering their own learning.

Happy Monday!

Facing the Lions -Friday Flush

Ok, there is a story I have heard a few times that is quite amazing.  It is one of those that I am slightly afraid to research as it may not be true, and I prefer to think it is….

There are tons of safari tours in Africa…I have been on one.  I was in jeep with binoculars…pretty safe.  There are walking tours too…didn’t do that…but most give you guides with guns.  Still pretty safe.  However, I have heard there are only 3 tour companies in Africa that will do a walking lion tour and not carry a gun.  The guides say they don’t need them.  They know something about fear that keeps them safe. 

The guides say that lions prey on the weak.  They are actually animals that win by intimidation.  They have sharp teeth and growl big, and in a fight, they will win.  But, the guides say that you can stand your crowd.  If you turn and run, you lose everytime. 

The guides literally charge at the lion.  This lion can run about about 50 mph while growling.  The guides raise their arms, slobber if they can, and charge right back.  They say EVERY time they lion turns away even at the last second.  They bluff as far as they can, but in the end, they give up.

Now, I will never personally test this strategy, but what does it have to do with us?

We all have obstacles in our life…both professionally and personally.  We have things that charge us and demand our attention.  Things that look like we can never survive an encounter with.  Things that look us in the eye and make us afraid.  Makes us want to give up or run the other direction.

However, there is hope…there is a way to deal with obstacles head on.  It is scarier and takes way more courage, but the obstacles become smaller.  We become bigger. 

I want you this weekend to think of that obstacle in your life that you know about.  Are you letting it stay there and hoping it doesn’t get worse?  If it is “charging you,” are you going to charge right back? 

I would challenge you to find those obstacles and deal with them head on.  Slobber too, you have my permission!

Happy Friday!

Monday Mush

It’s going to be a great Monday.  We have everything in place for what we need.  We truly have a week that can go any direction that we choose.  I hope we find a way to capitalize on that!

I love knowing that we have a blank canvas in front of us to start painting on.  Do you know what you want the finished product to look like?  Visualize that BEFORE you start.  Then keep that image of success in mind the whole time.  Masterpieces were planned, visualized, and kept consistent.  I doubt too many famous painters, sculptors, and other artists just figured it out as they went.  I don’t think the Sistine Chapel or the Mona Lisa were started with “just throw some paint up and we will see what happens.”

We don’t want to do that with kids either.  Covey says “Begin with the end in mind.”  It makes us stronger educators the more we are able to do that.  I learn so much from you guys everyday…thank you for being proactive.  Thank you for all you do.

Happy Monday.

Friday Flush

 

I think this quote is a great illustration of what we do…but more importantly it is our job to kids to be in charge of their own learning.  Through that process, they can teach others.  In many cases because of the technology that we possess, they can truly teach the world.  If they can explain it simply, then you know they truly understand it. 

To teach a subject or topic inside and out means that we can truly understand it….we understand the effects it has….we understand was causes it….we understand how to see it from a birds’ eye view….we understand it under a microscope.  We get it…..

How amazing would it be for kids to have that kind of confidence in their learning….they understand a topic or skill that thoroughly….that would snowball and create enthusiasm like we have never seen.

We can no longer do what we have always done…we are reaching for ways to make a bigger impact on students…thank you for being dedicated to doing that….thank you for helping kids understand all the subjects you teach….Thank you for the difference that you make!

No More Ordinary -- Monday Mush 10/14/13

“The world doesn’t need any more ordinary people in the workplace…there are already plenty of those.”  --- Rick Lytle. 

I listened to a speaker that spoke to how to make a mission of your workplace.  Those were his words in the quote above.  They truly hit me.  We see ordinary all over the place in the world, but what stands out to us is the extraordinary.  We don’t ever take the time to fill out a “customer service card” at Whataburger unless the service was either extraordinary or horrid.  Ordinary doesn’t get our attention.  Ordinary is what anyone can do. Sadly, ordinary is what we are used to.  

I want more than ordinary for this school.  I want more than ordinary for your lives.  I want more than ordinary for these kids. 

I don’t want to invest a large chunk of my life into something ordinary…into something that only “paid the bills.”  I want to invest my life into a mission that matters.  We have soooooo many to do’s, tasks, and overwhelming responsibilities, but they do become easier when we realize WHY we do them.

The speaker challenged us to look at Monday in different eyes.  To not dread Mondays…to not see “work” as only something you have to get through to get a paycheck.  It CAN be a place that fulfills you and energizes you, if you believe what you are doing is your mission.  If you see your job as a means to pass your talents, gifts, and abilities onto others, then it isn’t a dreadful place….it is a place that you want to be.  It is a place that gives you a greater purpose…

I needed that message.   I needed to be reminded that I am here for a reason…that ordinary isn’t enough.  Thank you for your mission….thank you for striving to be more than ordinary….thank you for passing your gifts on to soooo many students and coworkers. 

Happy Monday!

Friday "Flush"

Below is a blog posting that Jennifer Johnson emailed me.  Amazing read and very convicting.  As you know, I believe 100% in not “doing this alone.”  We need parents, community, and each other to be a successful place for the students.  We need to all be playing on the same team with the same information to be 100% successful….we will miss up, but because of that trust and relationship, we will continue doing great things and improving. 

I appreciate your willingness to try and try and try again….we need those players on our team that don’t stay down and never give up.  (even when the kids do).  Thank you for all you do…thanks, Jennifer for the “Friday Flush”

 

Ryan Kennelly. There is always a reason why you remember their names, even when you've known thousands, tens of thousands of names. Ryan Kennelly. Football player. Second row. Third seat back. This is all I knew about him after the first six weeks of school.

I didn't know the color of his eyes. I didn't know that he loved to read. I didn't know his mom wasn't around. I just knew if he didn't care enough about language arts to stay awake in class, then I didn't care enough to wake him up.

He had an F at midterm. That happens when you never complete any work. The afternoon after midterm reports went home, I flicked off my classroom light and turned to find a man standing in the classroom doorway. Ryan Kennelly stood behind him, his head down.

"Mrs. Ayres? I'm Ryan's dad." The work boots on his feet,along with his  jeans and shirt were coated with dirt that can only come from hard work. He shook my hand. His hands were rough, but his fingernails were clean. "I wanted to talk to you about Ryan's grade."

His eyes were kind. He reached behind him and put his hand behind Ryan's shoulder, gently moving him up to the conversation. I noticed Ryan's eyes were the same warm brown as his dad's.

He wasn't the parent I expected for a kid who sleeps in class. I stumbled through explaining that Ryan didn't complete any work, so he was failing.

Mr. Kennelly nodded. He squeezed Ryan's shoulder and looked me straight in the eyes. "Why didn't you call me?"

I didn't know five words could be filled with such disappointment. I couldn't answer him because the truth was so wrong: I didn't think you'd care.

He spoke again, "Now he can't play football. It's the one good thing in his life right now. We're just trying to get through. If I knew, then I would have helped Ryan get his work completed. I just didn't know."

My stomach twisted, knowing the mistake I made was because of my own misjudgment. "I'm sorry," I said. Then I gave him the work which Ryan brought to school complete the following day. I went to the principal and admitted my mistake, showing Ryan's current grade now that the work was turned in. I wrote a letter, asking for Ryan to be allowed to return to the football team.

It's a mistake I didn't make again. We're just trying to get through, Mr. Kennelly's voice haunts me from time to time. Now, fifteen years later and a mother to four, I know what he meant.

Tonight I had a meeting with one of my kids' teachers. She's a first year teacher and, like every first year teacher, is making some mistakes. I'm on the other side of the table this time. I hope my eyes are kind.

For the entire meeting I can't shake Ryan Kennelly from my mind.

I extend grace.

"Tomorrow is a new day," I said. "Let's just be glad we're not brain surgeons. They don't usually get a second chance."

The new teacher smiles, even laughs a little. It's going to be okay. This is education at its finest -- learning and growing from our mistakes.

 http://www.ruthayreswrites.com/2013/09/the-one-who-haunts-you-learning-to-work.html?m=1